3. Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor (CBS, Adam Finkelstein)
Ja’Kobe Walter had a mixed season at Baylor that was overall underwhelming. Walter is a younger prospect who doesn’t turn 20 until September. He measured well at the combine standing at 6 ‘4” with a 6 ‘10” wingspan. Athletically, he showcased above average ability amongst his peers in each category. The drawback to his outlook is his inconsistent performance and lack of progress as the season unfolded.
Walter possesses all the tools an evaluator would like to see: decent height, plus wingspan, solid shooting form, ball handling ability, work ethic, and effort. He had trouble putting all his tools together on a consistent basis. He scored his most points of the season, 28, during his college debut, but also had nine performances where he scored less than ten points shooting under 35% from the field. On the floor, Walter is constantly in motion. He maintains his effort on both sides of the ball throughout the game running around screens. He crashes the boards, mixes it up in the paint, and consistently pursues loose balls.
He is a creative ball handler but struggles against pressure. He has convincing ball and shot fakes but attempts too many and misses open opportunities. He hustles on defense but lacks anticipation and discipline putting him in recovery positions. The potential is apparent. He has the tools to earn a regular rotation role and a ceiling that is much higher due to his intangibles. His initial impact will likely be frustrating and require patience, but the long term outlook could be worth it.